'Taking the Crown': Luka Tops LeBron, Mavs Take Down Feisty Lakers
The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers came into Tuesday night's head-to-head matchup on two different trajectories and feeling polar-opposite emotions. The Mavs were coming off a resounding 107-101 win over the Golden State Warriors in a game where they trailed by 19 points with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth. The Lakers, on the other hand, got booed off their own home court after an embarrassing 123-95 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Not surprisingly, both teams' fortunes stayed the course as the Mavs took down the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, 109-104, although it wasn't as lopsided as throughout as many thought it would be due to a poor Mavs' third quarter.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Just a day after turning 23 years old, Luka Doncic led the Mavs down the stretch and finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Although the way the Mavs ended the game is what Doncic cares about most, his monster put-back dunk over Dwight Howard in the first quarter should at least take second place.
"He's more athletic that you think," said Spencer Dinwiddie, who had yet another good game after scoring 24 points on Sunday. "I didn't think he was going to do it. ... I think he was just mad. ... When you have the best player on the court every night, you have a chance to win basketball games."
Dallas led by as many as 21 points in this one before imploding by getting out-scored 31-14 in the third quarter. The Mavs had more turnovers (seven) than they did made field goals (six) in the frame. The heroics of Doncic kept the Lakers at bay, though, as he hit big shot after big shot in the fourth quarter with most of them being against LeBron James.
Doncic got a lot of extra help against the Lakers, as four other players scored in double figures. Jalen Brunson broke out of his shooting slump by pouring in 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from deep. Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dwight Powell pitched in with 16, 14 and 13 points of their own, respectively.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
James, who finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, has been the 'king' of the NBA for nearly two decades now. Although LeBron might not be quite ready to pass the crown to another player yet, Doncic seems poised to take it anyway, as he 'hunted' James on defense in the fourth and succeeded when the game was on the line. Doncic being his successor seems like the most natural move given both players' admiration for each other.
“The way (Luka) plays the game reminds me of the way I play the game," James said during the All-Star break. "We’re triple threats. We rebound, we pass, which is the number one thing on our mind. … and we’ll put 40 on you too if you disrespect us.”
It's been well-documented how Doncic grew up idolizing James and modeling some of his game after him. Tonight's game will surely be one he'll remember for a long time to come. The Mavs now move to 37-25 and are 12 games over .500 for the first time this season.
Next up, the Mavs will return home to American Airlines Center for the first time since February 12 when they take on the second-place Golden State Warriors for the second time in three games. With another win, Dallas will win the season series vs. Golden State 3-1.
